December 15, 2005
Indiana Horticulture Congress offers education and more
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Indiana Horticultural Congress (IHC) and Trade Show will be Jan. 23-25 at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Indianapolis.
Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service is one of several sponsors for the annual event. The IHC offers many education programs in areas including fruits, grapes and wine, organics, fresh and processing vegetables, agritourism, botanicals, and marketing.
"These programs offer a place where growers can learn about new technologies and trends and get updates on pest management," said Liz Maynard, Purdue Extension specialist.
Maynard said there are several educational programs this year that aren't usually offered at the Congress.
"There is a special program to help diagnose problems early on in the greenhouse for transplants and bedding plants," Maynard said. Another new session will discuss a pilot program that sells locally produced meat and produce to nearby schools. Maynard said this session will explain the program and ways to develop it in other areas.
Featured speakers at the Congress are Andy Miller, Jane Eckert and Lyle Craker.
"Andy Miller is the director of the newly formed Indiana State Department of Agriculture and will address the role of specialty crops in growing the Indiana economy," said Peter Hirst, horticulture professor at Purdue. "A leading agrimarketing consultant, Jane Eckert, will discuss the features that make agritourism destinations successful. Workshops on culinary and medicinal herbs will be led by Dr. Lyle Craker, one of the leading figures in herbs, spices and medicinal plants in the United States."
The trade show will showcase more than 50 exhibits including commercial seed, agriculture equipment, plant protection materials and general supplies for growers and retail marketers. Hirst said there are still a couple of booths available for businesses at the trade show.
"A lot of times growers attending the congress find the trade show to be a good place to meet suppliers and talk to them one on one," Maynard said. Along with businesses, there are informational booths set up to help educate producers about the current events in the industry.
Other events at the Congress will include a cider contest. The contestants need to drop off two gallons of cider at the registration desk by noon on Jan. 24 to be judged. Winners will be announced at the IHC luncheon on Jan. 25.
The Congress also has a silent auction to raise money to benefit the Tree Fruit Research and Extension Fund, along with the Vegetable Extension and Research Fund. These funds are used to purchase some of the equipment used at the Congress and other regional meetings.
Along with the other many events held at the Congress, a Private Applicator Recertification Program will be offered. This program allows attendees who currently have private applicators permits to achieve credits toward recertification. Participants must attend one hour of pest management presentations along with the recertification program at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 24 in order to earn credits towards recertification.
Pre-registration is available before Jan. 10. For members of associations co-sponsoring the event, the cost is $40 per person; the cost is $50 for nonmembers. On-site registration is an additional $15 more than the pre-registration price. For information, visit the web site.
Writer: Chelsea Carter, (765) 494-8402, carterc@purdue.edu
Sources: Liz Maynard, (219) 785-5673, emaynard@purdue.edu
Peter Hirst, (765) 494-1323, hirst@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
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